Summary

Description

A very small commensal bivalve, up to 3 mm in length. The shell is slightly oval in shape with a smooth margin. The umbones are posterior to the mid-line. The shell is white or translucent with a light brown or olive periostracum. Each valve has a single anterior and single posterior lateral tooth. The sculpture of the shells consisits of fine concentric lines.

Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland

Widespread around the British Isles but with very few records from Ireland.

Global distribution

Its distribution ranges from Norway to west Africa and the Mediterranean.

Habitat

Lives in muddy sand or fine gravel, in crevices of dead oyster valves, in the burrows of the sipunculid Golfingia, or associated with the brittlestar Amphiura brachiata.

Depth range

-

Identifying features

Very small (about 3 mm long).

Slightly oval in shape.

Light brown periostracum.

Closely associated with the brittlestar Amphiura brachiata.
The pallial line is wide.

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